Chessy
The Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack – Pressing a Small Edge as White
The Sämisch Attack (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3) is an aggressive way to meet the Alekhine Defense. Instead of retreating the knight or exchanging immediately, White develops with a threat, asking Black to make a decision early. Across over 118,000 games in the Lichess database, White scores a healthy 50.7% from this position, and Stockfish gives White +0.33 — a small but meaningful edge. The real story, though, is how often Black goes wrong. Several popular replies are outright mistakes, and the drill below will teach you exactly how to punish them.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack against the engine
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Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
The Sämisch Attack aims to turn Black's early knight sortie into a liability. After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5, White plays 3.Nc3, attacking the knight and forcing Black to commit. If Black captures on c3, White recaptures with the d-pawn, opening lines and gaining central space. If Black retreats (Nb6) or tries a weird move like Nf4, White can often seize a lead in development and dominate the centre. Your job in this drill is to find the reply that maximises your advantage after Black's reply — and in many cases Black will give you an even bigger edge than +0.33.
The Engine's Preferred Path
Stockfish's top choice for Black is 3...e6, which leads to 4.Nxd5 exd5 5.d4. In that line Black trades knights and accepts a slightly passive but solid pawn structure. The position after 5.d4 is roughly equal-ish — White's +0.33 reflects a small but real advantage, mostly thanks to the space advantage and the bishop pair. Against this line, you should simply develop naturally: bring your bishops out, castle, and look to put pressure on Black's central pawns. Patience is key — Black has no immediate counterplay.
The Most-Played Reply (and Why It's Tricky)
By far the most common move in practice is 3...Nxc3, played in over 80,000 games. White recaptures 4.dxc3 (not bxc3 — you want the d-file open and the pawn on d4). This gives White a big centre and the half-open d-file. White scores 49.8% from here, which is slightly below average — that is because the doubled c-pawns can be a long-term target if Black plays accurately. Still, this is a sharp, tactical position where White's activity usually outweighs the structural weakness. Develop quickly (Nf3, Bd3, 0-0) and try to lever Black's centre with ...c5 or ...f5 breaks.
Three Blunders to Punish Instantly
The statistics reveal three clear mistakes you can exploit right away: - 3...Nb6 (13,303 games) is an inaccuracy costing Black ~0.7 pawns. White should advance 4.Nb5 or 4.d4, grabbing space and threatening ...c7. Black's knight is poorly placed on b6, blocking the ...c7 pawn. - 3...Nf4 (1,080 games) is a full mistake (~1.8 pawns lost). White replies 4.d4 or 4.g3, trapping the knight or forcing a retreat. Black wastes precious tempi. - 3...d6 (1,483 games) is a blunder (~3.4 pawns lost). White simply exchanges 4.exd6 and after 4...Qxd6 5.Nxd5 Qxd5 6.c3 or 6.Nf3, White has a huge lead in development and the centre. This move just loses material for no compensation.
What the Statistics Tell You
Across all 118,307 games, White scores 50.7% to Black's 44.7% (with 4.5% draws). That might not sound like a huge gap, but compare the individual lines: - After 3...Nxc3: White scores 49.8% — about even. - After 3...e6: White scores 51.9% — a slight edge. - After 3...c6: White scores 52.8% — solidly better. - After 3...d6: White scores a massive 72.2%. - After 3...Nf4: White scores 61.9%. In other words, if Black doesn't play the top engine move (3...e6) or the common 3...Nxc3, you are already significantly ahead on the scoreboard. Use the drill below to train yourself to meet each reply accurately.
Results across 118,307 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxc3 | 80,810 | 49.8% |
| e6 | 13,506 | 51.9% |
| Nb6 | 13,303 | 48.9% |
| c6 | 6,422 | 52.8% |
| d6 | 1,483 | 72.2% |
| Nf4 | 1,080 | 61.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense Sämisch Attack good for White?
Yes, Stockfish rates it +0.33 in White's favour, meaning a small but clear edge. White scores 50.7% in practice, which is above average for an opening. It is a solid attacking choice against the Alekhine.
What is the best move for Black in the Sämisch Attack?
The engine's top move is 3...e6, leading to 4.Nxd5 exd5 5.d4. That gives White a small advantage (+0.33) but keeps the position solid for Black. Many alternative moves like 3...Nb6 or 3...Nf4 are much worse.
What should I do if Black plays 3...Nxc3?
Recapture with 4.dxc3, not bxc3. This opens the d-file and gives you a pawn centre. Develop naturally with Nf3, Bd3, and 0-0. The doubled c-pawns are a minor weakness, but your space and activity more than compensate.
What are the biggest mistakes Black can make in this line?
The three most punishing errors are 3...d6 (a blunder losing ~3.4 pawns), 3...Nf4 (a mistake losing ~1.8 pawns), and 3...Nb6 (an inaccuracy losing ~0.7 pawns). In each case White can seize a large advantage with accurate play.
How many games feature the Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack?
Over 118K Lichess games have reached the Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack position. White wins 50.7%, Black wins 44.7%, with 4.5% draws — based on real rated games.